Holistic approaches to illustration and how this engages communities in future-looking heritage

Heritage is often curated by experts within institutions, focusing on retelling the past. But as Rachel Taylor asks, ‘how do we see the role of people and non-experts as part of the heritage process?’ (2024, p. 21). In light of the climate crisis, which threatens to reshape heritage landscapes, illustration serves as a vital tool for amplifying the voices of local communities and assisting them in navigating these evolving heritages. Illustration provides accessible, participatory means to reflect on history and envision future possibilities, thereby fostering a sense of belonging and agency.

The Creatures of Change project shows how illustration engages communities in future-oriented heritage discussions to meaningfully navigate a landscape that is changing in response to the climate crisis. Set amidst local tensions, such as restricted access to Dartmoor (Hodson, 2023) and tree cuttings on Armada Way (Guardian, 2023), the project hosted four workshops where residents created ‘creatures of change’ to reflect on Plymouth's changing landscape. The project's value lay not in the final artworks but in the participatory process. Participants took the existing heritage of Plymouth and used this to reimagine its future, becoming agents of heritage-making.

This contributes to our understanding of how illustration as process can enliven heritage discussions, guiding conversations towards constructive positive outcomes, and support local communities to participate in heritage conversations. This contributes to heritage studies by demonstrating how illustration can be a tool for community resilience and navigating the changing relationship between heritage and place in the context of climate change, with broad applications to other climate-impacted communities and contexts both within the UK and internationally.